Grommet for inkwells



July 6,1937,-

L. CRANDALL ET AL QROMMET F oR INKWELLS Filed Jan. 10, less m w w m laid ('randall cram: Jllhdgmls A TTORNEY Patented July 6, 1937 GROMMET FOR INKWELLS Loid Crandall, John W. Davis, and Lorentz J. Lindquist, Los Angeles, Calif., assignors to Harry A. Morgan, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application January 10, 1936, Serial No. 58,514

3 Claims.

This invention relates to'a grommet, and more particularly pertains to a grommet which is especially adapted for use in the formation of a mouth on ink wells.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a resilient or cushion annulus for application to the mouth of an ink well to form such mouth with a cushion rim so formed as to receive the base end portion of a pen holder in 1,1 a fashion to afford a support for the latter, and whereby the pen holder with its associated pen may be removably held in an upwardly extending position in the ink well mouth with the pen disposed for partial submersion in ink contained in the well.

Another object is to provide an ink well mouth adapted to effect frictional engagement with a pen holder such as to support the latter with a grip which will afford a tight seal around the pen holder whereby the latter will serve as a stopper for the ink well, yet in which the grip is such that it may be readily broken to effect easy withdrawal of the pen holder from engagement with the mouth-piece.

Another object is to provide a grommet or rim for an ink well mouth, which is so formed as to afford a wiper to efiect removal of excessive ink from the exterior of the pen on withdrawing the latter from the ink well in a fashion such as to prevent undue accumulation of ink on the mouth-piece such as would ordinarily effect smearing of the base end portion of the pen holder and also tend to cause the holder to stick when gripped by the grommet. With the foregoing objects in view, together with such other objects and advantages as may i subsequently appear, the invention resides in the parts and in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the grommet;

Fig. 2 is a view in transverse section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view in horizontal section as seen on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view in section and elevation depicting the grommet as applied to the mouth of an ink well and showing the manner in which it affords a support for a pen holder and pen.

Referring to the drawing more specifically, A indicates generally the body portion of the grommet which comprises an annulus of resilient material such as rubber or rubber composition. A circumferential channel 5 is formed on the outer periphery of the annulus to receive the rim 6 of a circular opening in the top wall I of an ink well B, as particularly shown in Fig. 4; the lower side wall 8 of the channel 5 being forced through the ink well opening past the flange or rim 6 where the wall 8 expands to normal to effect engagement with the under side of the rim 6 with the outer wall 9 of the channel 5 seating on the outer margin of the rim 6 thereby securely holding the grommet in place on the ink well against accidental removal. The grommet being flexible and resilient is adapted to be readily removed and replaced, as occasion requires.

In carrying out the present invention, the inner periphery of the grommet is formed with a circumferentially extending channel l0 bordered on its lower margin with a thin lip H which is quite flexible, and on its upper margin with a thickened lip 12 which while being resilient is resistant to flexing to a greater extent than the lip H. In other words, the upper rim of the channel II] is more unyielding than the lower rim thereof. However, the lip I2 is tapered from its inner margin whereby its extreme edge portion will be rendered quite flexible. The lips ii and I2 are disposed at the inner and outer margins of the inner periphery of the grommet.

The inner periphery of the channel H3 is formed 'vvith a series of transverse corrugations I4, to

providea' series of alternate ribs 14 and recesses l5 transversely of the channel I0.

The outer and inner marginal wall 9 and lip l2 merge together in a thickened wall portion l6 of substantially arcuate cross section of substantial thickness which imparts to the structure the desired rigidity yet affords a protective cushioned rim for the mouth of the ink well.

In the application of the invention the inner periphery of the grommet defined by the marginal lips H and I2 is formedof a diameter to Y snugly conform to a slightly tapered frusto-conical extension IT on the base end portion of'a pen holder C, as particularly shown in Fig. 4, which extension I! is formed of a length to extend through the grommet. A shoulder I8 at the base of the extension I1 is adapted to seat on the outer face of the lip l2. It will now be seen that when the pen holder is inserted in the grommet, as shown in Fig. 4, extension I! of the pen' holder will be gripped by the lips I I and 5 II! in a fashion to support the pen holder in an upwardly extending position, and also afford a seal for the ink well opening.

In removing the pen holder, on initial upward movement thereof the shoulder l8 and the enholder move away from their seated positions on.- 1

the grommet, and break the seal afforded by the lip l2, whereupon continued outward movement of the pen holder, the reduced end of extension I! gripped by the lip II is readily freed from the latter.

On withdrawing the pen through the grommet, the upper portion of the pen may be wiped along the lip II to effect removal of excessive ink from the exterior of the pen.

By provision of the channel l0 accumulation of ink on the inner periphery of the grommet such as would tend to smear the extension I! or to cause the latter to stick will be obviated.

In inserting the pen holder into its seated position in the grommet, the lip' I 2 will be slightly depressed so that the outer periphery of the tapered end portion I! of the pen holder will seat on the ribs I4, and the lip II will be caused to closely conform to the reduced end portion of the extension l1, thus affording a substantial bearing for the extension I 1 throughout the length thereof and throughout the length of the opening of the grommet between the upper and lower margins thereof. By the provision of the ribs 14 and recesses I5, excessive wedging engagement between the grommet and pen holder is obviated and a seal afforded which iseasily broken.

We claim:

1. A grommet for ink wells comprising a resilient annulus having a circumferentially extending channel on its inner periphery formed with a ribbed bottom wall and having marginal lips one of which is lighter and so more flexible than the other.

2. A mouth-piece for ink wells comprising an annular resilient body formed with an annular channel on its outer periphery for engagement with the rim of an ink well and formed with a pair of spaced marginal lips on its inner periphery, and having a series of ribs and recesses extending between said lips, said lips projecting inwardly beyond said ribs and adapted to be flexed relative thereto with one of said lips lighter and so more flexible than the other.

3. A mouth-piece for ink wells comprising an annular resilient body formed with an annular channel on its outer periphery for engagement with the rim of an ink well and formed with a pair of spaced marginal lips at the upper and lower margins of its inner periphery, and having a series of ribs and recesses extending between said lips; the lip at the lower margin being lighter and so more flexible than the lip at the upper margin as a whole, and the lip on the upper margin being tapered to a thin flexible edge.

. LOID CRANDALL.

JOHN W. DAVIS. l LORENTZ J. LINDQUIST. 

